World Rugby suspends Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada for two matches

World Rugby has issued an automatic two-match suspension to Gonzalo Quesada, head coach of the Italian national rugby team, over comments he made about match officiating. It is the first sanction applied under the new Match Official Abuse Sanction Process, introduced by the international federation from July 2026.

The sanction follows remarks made by Quesada on broadcast, and later reported, after Italy's Nations Championship match against New Zealand on 11 July. According to World Rugby's official statement, the suspension includes a ban on all match-day activity, including being present in the stadium.

The new process, agreed at the recent Shape of the Game forum, applies to all international fixtures involving World Rugby-appointed match officials. It covers the World Rugby Junior World Championship, the WXV Global Series and Challenger, the World Rugby Nations Cup and the Nations Championship — the elite tournament owned and operated by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR. Its stated aim is to reduce comments that often fuel the unacceptable rise in abuse and threats directed at officials.

Under the process, an independent panel — made up of the judicial panel chair and two experienced members — assesses whether conduct or comments by team personnel include, among other things, allegations that an official acted with bias, prejudice, improper motive, external influence or deliberate intent to affect an outcome. Outcomes range from "no further action" to a guidance letter, a formal warning or an automatic sanction.

Quesada retains the right to appeal the sanction to a full judicial committee hearing. The suspension remains in effect pending any such appeal.

Sources

• World Rugby